The Effect of Swedish Tethers on the Performance of Rear Facing Child Restraints in Frontal Crashes

Rear Facing Child Restraints (RFCR) have various component designs which can couple the restraint to the vehicle. Swedish tethers, which link the upper portion of the child restraint to the vehicle floor, prevent rearward rotation in rear impacts and during rebound in frontal crashes. They also simplify installation of restraints by allowing better control of the installation angle and removing the need of spacer devices. The objective of this study was to test the effect of Swedish tethers on RFCR in frontal crashes. The tethers reduced forward excursion and rotation, and had a positive but minor effect on injury values. The more secure attachment to the vehicle caused by the Swedish tether could also be beneficial in other crash types.